Vacation time is precious, so ski slopes are prepared at night. The slopes are closed due to the use of machines which may be secured by cables. For folks not wanting to waste their time at night, some locations have installed lighting on rodel runs (that also serve as descent paths for skieers who overlooked the time while staying in ski huts).

Three young men vacationing together decided to go rodeling at 8p.m., well after dark. They rode up the lift and down the rodel run twice, then warmed themselves up at the ski hut. How to get back down? One of them, the most sensible, took the rodel run while the other two opted for the ski slopes. The light of the half moon, reflected by the snow, seems to have appeared ample illumination to them.

Only two men arrived at the bottom. They informed a local ski instructor who checked the ski slope on a skidoo in vain. Mountain rescue teams and alpine police searched until 2am. The third had lost control of his rodel and dropped into a stream he hadn't seen in the dark, where he collided with a tree trunk head first, breaking his neck.

http://tirol.orf.at/stories/78029/

Submitted on 12/22/2005

Submitted by: Gunter
Reference: Austrian Broadcasting, Dec 22

Copyright © 2005 DarwinAwards.com

James said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
While I generally like the write-up and the cartoony demise of the victim, I am not quite convinced that Darwinian stupidity was to blame. Nevertheless, such stupidity is implied, so I will go neutral on this. Thanks!

Greg said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
Hmmmm, there was certainly a decent degree of stupid arrogance here. Whether they should have known better? I don't know. But mountains are like the sea in that respect - people often don't appreciate how dangerous they are.

Jack said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
I must disagree. Unless I misread the write up, it seems as they successfully did the rodel run twice after dark and the unlucky one - IMO - probably expected that he could do it again without harm. I call this more a case of bad luck than true Darwin grade stupidity.

Tracy said:
Neutral: Darwin Award
It's stupid enough for me

Charles said:
Maybe Toss: Lacks Excellence
I side with Jack on this one. He's already done it twice; why not a third time?

The Darwin Awards Gift Shop

The Darwin Awards Condom Keep yourself out of the gene pool! A condom in a matchbook, useful for emergency contraception, bachelor parties, frat parties, and important rites of passage. LOADED inside and out with funny quotes and stories. Everyone loves this item! Friends don't let friends reproduce! $13 for Pack of 4